Eamonn Deacy Park

ABOUT

Eamonn Deacy Park, (formerly known as Terryland Park) is a multi-purpose stadium in Galway, Ireland. Owned by the Galway FA, it is the premier venue in the association and hosts numerous matches and finals in the Galway & District League. In addition to this, it is also the home venue of League of Ireland club Galway United, Bus Eireann Women’s National League side Galway WFC, and the Galway United U-19 representative side.

HISTORY

The first game ever played on Terryland Park was in the fourth round of the Free State Junior Cup between Athlone Town and a Galway team known as Macks, on February 3 1935. It would be another 15 years before the Galway FA purchased the lands from Martin Joseph Morris, who was Eamonn Deacy’s grandfather. He sold the field to the Galway FA for £250 in 1950. The Galway FA continued to use the ground for their own activities right up until 1977. This was the year League of Ireland football first came to the stadium when Galway Rovers first played in the league. This club would later change their name to Galway United, and their home remained on the banks to the River Corrib until 2011 when the club ceased operations at the time.

As success came United's way in the mid eighties, culminating in the historic 1991 FAI Cup triumph, it became apparent that the club needed to upgrade their facilities for European competition. The lack of an adequate venue in Terryland saw the club play UEFA fixtures in Cois Fharraige and Ballindereen previous to this. In 1992, serious discussions began between the Galway FA and Galway United with a view to developing Terryland. Boosted by Grants from the National Lottery and the FAI, the stadium underwent redevelopment the following year. It focused on realigning the pitch, construction of boundary walls and construction of the carpark and the clubhouse. There was also the establishment of the floodlights, which allowed evening matches to take place at the ground for the first time. The ground reopened in 1994 to an enthusiastic Galway public.

In 2007 a €500,000 government grant went towards developing a new 1,500-seater stand. The new stand was opened in July of that year and raised the seated capacity to 3,300 and the overall capacity to 5,000. Development of the interior of the Main Stand continued as new dressing rooms, medical rooms, showers, officials’ dressing rooms, and another amenities were all upgraded and installed. The floodlights were relocated as a new camera platform was erected and all of the seats in the old stand were replaced.

In both the 2007 & 2008 seasons, the ground was voted as the best surface by the FAI. It would pick up the same award again for best playing surface in the League of Ireland for the 2015 season. Given the large volume of games played throughout the year at the ground in all competitions, these awards are a testament to the great work done by groundsman Noel Connolly and his hard-working team.

In 2012, following the untimely passing of the Galway football legend Eamonn ‘Chick’ Deacy, the board of the Galway FA proposed to rename Terryland Park in his honour. This formally occurred at a tribute match featuring Galway and Aston Villa legends teams later that year. The following year, Galway WFC played their first game at the stadium before Galway United returned in 2014 in the League of Ireland. Under manager Tommy Dunne’s guidance, the Tribesmen won promotion through the Play-offs, defeating Shelbourne and UCD.

The ground has been host for two League Cup Finals. In 1996, it hosted the first leg of the final as Galway United defeated Cork City 3-1, enroute to a 4-2 aggregate win overall. It would be nearly 19 years later before Galway United & Eamonn Deacy Park played their part another final, this time in the rebranded EA Sports Cup Final. Unfortunately for Galway United, they would lose out on penalties against St.Patricks Athletic.

The stadium has hosted five Republic of Ireland U21 fixtures and numerous other international underage matches throughout the years.

FACILITIES

The official capacity of the ground in 5'000, with 3'300 of that seated. There also a number of wheelchair spaces behind the goals and along the sideline of the stadium to cater for disabled supporters. Galway United strive to provide support & assistance for our disabled supporters and their carers, facilitating them at every home match.

There are two stands located on either side of the pitch. The Main Stand, named The Comer Stand, holds modern dressing rooms, medical rooms, showers, and officials’ dressing rooms. It also holds the offices of the Galway FA. There is also a media and conference room for press conferences, and TV and radio facilities. There are video facilities located on the top of the stand opposite to the Main Stand.

There is parking spaces available for up to 200 cars at the back of the ground. Turnstiles are located right at the ground entrance and 50m further down the ground.

The ground has free Wi-Fi available throughout the ground. The hub name is "Galway Soccer Wi-Fi" and its free to use upon registering.

DIRECTIONS

From top of Eyre Square, go to the Headford Road until you come to a T-junction. Follow the sign for the Dyke Road. Continue on the Dyke Road past the Black Box theatre and continue under the flyover. Terryland Park is situated on the right hand side past the Old Galway waterworks.

If approaching from N17, turn right onto Bothar na dTreabh on the N6. Continue on until you reach a roundabout, taking the 3rd exit. Proceed on for about 650m before turning left onto the Dyke Road, the ground will be located on your left.

CONTACT DETAILS

To contact the Galway FA or the office here at Eamonn Deacy Park, you can ring 091-701028 or email office@galwayfa.ie

For details on on ticketing arrangements for Galway United games and for disabled supporters, contact the club office at 091-767336 or e-mail info@galwayunitedfc.ie for further information